LACSON CONDEMNS CHINA’S DEPICTION OF FILIPINOS AS ‘MONKEYS’

SENATOR Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson condemned China’s depiction of Filipinos as monkeys in an AI-generated video, saying the racist portrayal reflects more on China’s character than on the Filipino people.

“Kung unggoy ang turing nila sa mga Pilipino, ano sila kung pag-uugali at karakter ang batayan (If China considers Filipinos as monkeys, then what does it say about its character)?” he said.

China Daily, a state-run media outlet, published the AI-generated video concerning the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award – among other content belittling the Philippines and the Arbitral Award.

The Department of Foreign Affairs condemned the video, branding this depiction of Filipinos as “blatantly demeaning, dehumanizing and racist.” It issued a formal diplomatic protest condemning the video and related content.

Lacson said China’s repeated bullying of the Philippines, particularly in the West Philippine Sea, has only reinforced international support for the Philippines’ position under the 2016 Arbitral Award.

He pointed to the Chinese Coast Guard’s repeated use of water cannons and other forms of harassment against Philippine vessels conducting lawful missions in the West Philippine Sea.

Lacson reiterated that the Philippines must eradicate corruption and become an economic power to enable it to modernize its armed forces and establish a credible defensive posture.